Damon Suede, a chart-topping M/M romance author, will change the way you think about craft and characters. Damon gives listeners tips from his books Verbalize and Your A Game such as thinking about characters in the term of budgeting a blockbuster film and why every character should be driven by a specific word. He also talks about sex, romance and exploring different types relationships. Warning: this episode contains explicit content!
- Damon talks about how he got his start as a writer and how he ended up writing a romance novel.
- Damon talks about his 20-minute presentation then ending up being the foundation for his title Verbalize.
- Damon discusses his unique approach to
characterization that he learned from being an actor.
- When describing a character, they need to be doing something. An action for a character cannot be described by anything other than an active transitive verb. What characters do is what they are.
- A character is not limited to just one action/word. They have an action for the entirety of book and then tactics; an action that is broken out into reactions based on different situations they find themselves in.
- When I cast a character, I start with a verb
and the verb is the core. I can extrapolate from there.
- “If you write a mannequin, don’t expect a heartbeat.”
- Damon also discusses how he approaches cutting
down extraneous scenes and characters.
- Ever character must serve the action and move the plot along.
- “If I’m going to give you a 15-page digression, I have stolen attention from every other character in the story. I have also stolen tension and emotional pay-off and the reader starts to resent it because they are the ones that are paying attention.”
- Damon gives us the story behind the creation of
his title Your A Game he co-authored
with fellow gay romance author Heidi Cullinan.
- He talks about why they created a “chose your own adventure” plot structure to appeal to all authors, from different genres at different points in their career.
- He talks to us about diversity and his
experiences as a gay romance author and how he was able to grow his brand and
readership.
- “I don’t write gay romance, I write romance. ‘Gay’ is not a genre, ‘gay’ is the trope.”
- “Luck is opportunity, plus preparation.”
Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to romance fiction, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen for almost three decades. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year. Get in touch with him at DamonSuede.com.
Website: http://www.damonsuede.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DamonSuede
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damon.suede.author
Verbalize https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/verbalize
Your A Game by Damon Suede and Heidi Cullinan
New to M/M romance? Try Damon’s first novel, here:
I enjoyed this podcast., and many other KOBO writing life shows.When he made the comment about being a “genre slut” I almost spit out my coffee t laughing out loud. I am a voracious reader too. Classics, chic lit,Sci-fi, thrillers, lit. noir, regency, etc., I’ve already screwed up my recommendations and “also bought” recommendations on one book channel I’m seriously trying to behave on Kobo and stick to crime fiction, classic mysteries, and cozies. Oh so many books to read. I told my kids to scatter my ashes in a bookstore. You brightened my day. Thanks for your honesty, and many good tips. I bought both your books and can’t wait to read them. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you someday at Ozark Romance Writers.
Just a suggestion. How about some romantic mystery suspense? I’d bet you would be so good at it. I’d love to read one from you.